sail-world.com -- PWA Tenerife World Cup - A moment of silence on opening day

PWA Tenerife World Cup - A moment of silence on opening day

Sun, 4 Aug 2013

The opening day of the PWA Tenerife World Cup saw the sailors registering for the competition between 10am and 11am. With good conditions from the beginning of the day - with winds of 25-30knots and waist to head high waves - the competition promptly began just after 1:30pm with the completion of the trial heats, after which a touching two minute silence was held in tribute of Andre Paskowski - who sadly lost his battle to cancer yesterday.

With six spots remaining in the main draw twelve competitors lined up in the qualifiers to fight for the final places. The trials saw three heats take place as four sailors at a time battled it out against each other. In the opening heat Scott McKercher (Starboard / Severne) and Moritz Mauch (Starboard / North) successfully advanced past Pablo Ramirez (Goya Windsurfing / MFC), with McKercher coming out on top with a demonstration of powerful turns and a backloop.

The second heat saw Martin Ten Hoeve (Goya Windsurfing / Point-7) standout against his fellow competitors as he comfortably booked himself a place in the main draw. Also advancing with the Dutchman was Florian Jung (RRD / Gun Sails / Maui Ultra Fins), who just edged out Eric Sanllehy (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) by way of a 2:1 decision from the judges in his favor. Alessio Stillrich (Fanatic / North) and Jonas Ceballos safely navigated their way into the main draw in the final heat.

With the trial heats being completed the single elimination began shortly after 3pm as the first round was completed - leaving only the top 16 men standing.

The a-side of heat two witnessed the closest contest of the day as Phil Horrocks (Tabou / Gaastra) took on Leon Jamaer (Fanatic / Hot Sails Maui). In the end Horrocks advanced by quarter of a point with the Brits super tweaked pushloop and powerful, vertical turns on the wave proving just enough to see him advance into heat nine - where he will face Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) after the Spaniard knocked out Moritz Mauch by landing the first double forward of the competition.

Boujmaa Guilloul (Starboard / Severne / Mystic / MFC) recovered from a slow start in heat five to fight back and claim victory against Albert Pijoan (Starboard / Severne / Maui Ultra Fins). On the b-side of the heat Thomas Traversa (Tabou / Gaastra) excelled in the wave riding department as he linked several fluid turns with an explosive frontside wave 360.

The sixth heat saw a close call between Jules Denel (JP / NeilPryde) and Omar Sanchez (Patrik / Loft Sails), but after much deliberation it was the Frenchman - Denel - who advanced by 0.4 of a point. Meanwhile, Ricardo Campello (JP / NeilPryde / MFC) was able to see off the hugely talented Alessio Stillrich, but only just. With just a few minutes to go there was only half a point between the pair, but Campello kept his cool to add a fantastic final wave which consisted of three powerful frontside smacks and a taka.

Heat seven saw the first and only real upset of the day as Aleix Sanllehy (Goya Windsurfing / MFC) comprehensively dispatched of Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC). The Catalonian opened with a stunning tweaked pushloop and from here he never looked back as he setup a tie with John Skye (RRD / MFC), after the Brit dispatched of Valter Scotto (Fanatic / Challenger Sails / MFC / AL360).

The final men’s heat of the day saw the reigning world champion - Philip Koster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins) - in action and he looked his brilliant best in the air. The eighteen year old earned the first tens of the competition as he opened with a trademark, bolt upright double forward. Despite impressing in the air, Koster didn’t quite look his normal self on the wave, but he still advanced past Jonas Ceballos - who landed a fantastic tweaked pushloop before the start of the heat unfortunately for him. The a-side of the panel saw an all English affair between Ben Proffitt (Simmer) and Jamie Hancock (Tabou / Gaastra). This time around it was Proffitt who came out on top as he landed a super tweaked pushloop and a couple of super waves to book his place in the next round.

Arrianne Aukes (RRD / Simmer / Maui Ultra Fins) negotiated her way through her first ever heat on the PWA Wave World tour as she defeated Josine Schmitz (KA Sail), also advancing from the first round were Maria Andres (Starboard / Gun / Mystic) and Sara Sommer (Severne).

Eva Oude Ophius (Fanatic / North) and Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) cruised their way into the third round of the women’s single elimination after seeing off Caroline Weber (F2 / Sailloft Hamburg) and Maria Andres respectively in heat nine.

Heat eleven was the final heat of the day to be completed due to deteriorating conditions, but Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) and Nayra Alonso (Fanatic / Severne) will end the day happy after advancing into heat fourteen. Alonso clinically dispatched of Waka Nishida as the Spaniard landed a good forward loop as well as delivering several fluid wave rides.

Tomorrow will see the completion of heat ten and twelve, before the men’s single elimination is resumed. With a positive looking forecast - promising both wind and waves - the skippers’ meeting has been called for 10am with the action commencing from 10:30am.